Competence Center for Gender Studies in Transformation
Interdisciplinary - Intersectional - International
The Competence Center "Gender Studies in Transformation" sees itself as a discourse space and research context in which scientists from various disciplines work together. Its task is to bundle, strengthen networking, continue and, in particular, expand existing research initiatives in the field of interdisciplinary, intersectional and international gender, diversity and queer research. On the basis of diverse disciplinary as well as multi- and interdisciplinary methodological and theoretical approaches, gender is not only examined from multiple perspectives, on different levels and from a contemporary analytical and historical perspective; at the same time, the Center contributes to the further development of research and the continuous reflection and revision of its own theoretical approaches and epistemological self-conceptions.
The Centre's activities are bundled into three research clusters: "Socio-ecological transformation and gender relations", "Precarious lives and relations of violence" and "Representation and reproduction of gender". The spectrum ranges from the analysis of social, economic, spatial and political inequalities to research into the entanglement of structural power relations - such as racism, sexism, ableism and nationalism - and the investigation of knowledge systems, the representation of gender and its role in processes of production and reproduction.
In addition, the center integrates an interdisciplinary study program and provides targeted support for graduate students in its structures in order to strengthen academic qualification and support in the field of gender, diversity and queer research.
The name "Gender Studies in Transformation" underlines the focus of the competence center on gender relations in social transformation processes and on the transformation of gender itself. Secondly, it refers to the interdisciplinary and always reflexive field of gender studies, which is constantly changing - both in its questions and in its methodological approaches. Thirdly, the term transformation establishes a link to the profile of the University of Kassel in the area of sustainability debates and makes it clear that gender and transformation research are closely related.
The special feature of the Center of Excellence "Gender Studies in Transformation" at the University of Kassel lies in the close connection between gender studies and various interdisciplinary fields of research - including disability studies, mobility studies, feminist STS, post/decolonial studies, eco-feminist studies, digital studies, human-animal studies, childhood studies and legal gender studies - as well as educational research, migration and racism research, urban and spatial research and, last but not least, sustainability and transformation research.
Research clusters
Socio-ecological transformation and gender relations
The cluster examines structures that create precarity and inequalities, focusing on social, economic, political and cultural factors and their gender-specific effects and mechanisms of gendering.
Socio-ecological transformation and gender relations: More about this research cluster
Precarious lives and violent relationships
The research cluster focuses on the relationship between production and reproduction, the associated power structures and the tensions between democracy, property and social inequality.
Precarious lives and violent relationships: More about this research cluster
Representation and reproduction of gender
The cluster is dedicated to the question of how gender and its characteristics are expressed and passed on, i.e. reproduced, in different social and cultural settings.
Representation and reproduction of gender: More about this research cluster
Activities and structure
Board of Directors and organizational structure
Gender Studies Program
Certification program for students and doctoral candidates